Tony Blair suggests British troops should return to Iraq

Tony Blair has said he “underestimated” the challenges of Iraq and the UK must be ready to send in ground troops to battle Islamic State.“This is where we have got to learn the lessons, not just of Iraq but what has come afterwards as well,” he told an event in Westminster today.

The former prime minister said:

“There is no way of defeating these people without defeating them on the ground. Air strikes are not going to defeat Isis, they have got to be tackled on the ground.

We are not being honest with our public if we are saying it is possible to defeat these people without making the commitment to defeat them and to do what it takes to defeat them. In my view, defeating them is absolutely fundamental because if we don’t defeat them they are going to come and attack us here. This is not someone else’s fight, it is our fight as well.”

Mr Blair has previously said there are “elements of truth” in claims that the Iraq war helped spur the rise of Islamic State.

In Iraq at least, there is a significant force currently surrounding Fallujah, their second-last stronghold. As far as Iraq goes the threat is on the way out – without us committing (too much) on the ground. The real question is what to do with Syria.

Everyone should read General David Richards book – Taking Command. If Cameron’s comment is to be believed about ISIS being happy about Brexit , then they would be overjoyed with Osborne as the leader of this country.

Syria was a disaster since we did not have the will or capability to see the job through and maintain stability, hence the comment from Obama which was watered down by his advisors.